What can YOU do?

I've gotten a lot of inquiries from the Vail school district parents and taxpayers asking what they can do to help raise awareness and help prevent the upcoming LDS Seminary from being built on Cienega High School grounds.

What everyone can do is to share the information with your friends and neighbors. Your voice matters and the more that our elected officials hear from you, the easier it is for them to take the actions that represent YOU.

For your convenience, I've created a form here for you to contact John Carruth (VUSD Superintendent) as well as Juan Ciscomani (AZ Representative), , Kris Mayes (AZ Attorney General). It will send you a copy of your submission that you can forward to whomever you feel appropriate.

Additionally, below is a proposed letter than you can copy/paste in an email and send as well:

I am sending you this message to make you aware of a proposed building and lease of school property in Vail, Arizona that I believe to be in violation of Federal and AZ state law.

During a recent school board meeting in Vail, AZ, the superintendent John Carruth shared that the Church of Latter Day Saints (CHC) was donating funds for the purpose of building an LDS Seminary on the grounds of Cienega High School.  CHC would then lease that building during school hours (Monday - Friday from 6 am to 6 pm) for purposes of students choosing to attend LDS Seminary as an ‘elective’ during the day.  

Additionally, that lease would be at a significantly reduced fee ($100/monthly rent + $500/monthly utility fee) and would designate four (4) specific parking spaces for use by CHC, permit CHC to hang signage and allow CHC to install their cameras.  This shows preferential treatment to CHC as their standard lease agreement states the usage of general parking lot spaces.  The lease for CHC is much less than their published rates (using the gymnasium) which would be approximately $4,320/monthly for a non-profit organization. The published information also states that NO signage may be installed.  The installation of cameras by a third party on a public school campus also raises privacy concerns for our students.

I believe that this is in violation of the law.  As in Southside Dist Hospital v Hartman, 62 Ariz. 67, 153 P.2d 537 (1944) The arrangement must be for the benefit of the community, have reasonable fees and equal access.  As cited in (p. 522) City of Tempe v. Pilot Properties, Inc. & First National Bank of Arizona, (22 Ariz. App. 356, 527 P. 2d 515 (1974), if the city does not receive fair market value for the property, it has given aid or support to a private corporation in violation of the gift clause. 

Arizona law (A.R.S. 15-806(A)(2)) states that any religious instruction or exercise takes place at a suitable place away from school property designated by the church or religious denomination or group.  Thus the church may not use the seminary for “release time” for the students of Cienega High School.

As stated by the Vail School District’s director of Communications and Public Affairs, Darcy Mentone, the building will benefit only the LDS students making it apparent this is NOT a public benefit.  She also said that the seminar is completely operated by the church and has no affiliation with the school.  Several of the gift clause cases are clear that the government entity giving away public resources must maintain control - which of course would then enmesh the government with the running of the churches that is also not allowed under the First Amendment. 

Respectfully, I request that this project be halted.  There are several violations of federal and state constitutional law that cannot be overcome.  

Thank you for your assistance on this matter.